Training apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for training muscles of the back, abdomen, arms, neck and shoulders, consisting of two equally dimensioned parallely disposed and coaxial rings (1) which are fixedly connected with a support frame (2) and a U-shaped swing (4) with a foot rest (7) and a locking device (23, 24) to support the feet of the user. A fixing device (15-21, 25-28) for the waist of the user is arranged close to the axis of rotation of the swing. In use, the rings (1) serve as a handrail. The swing is adjustable in length. The fixing device for the waist of the user consists of a back support (16) and a front support (15) on each side of the rotational axis of the swing. The distance of the back support and front support to the axis of rotation is adjustable, so that the user may be strapped in such a way that his center of gravity will be kept near the axis of rotation of the swing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a training and stretching apparatus forthe muscles of the back, abdomen, arms, shoulders and neck. Lack ofphysical exercise often causes physical and mental problems.Accordingly, an increasing number of people are experiencing physicalproblems related to insufficient muscle strength. Back pain, forexample, is a common problem. To avoid this illness it is important thatthe abdominal muscles provide good support for the back. The presentinvention seeks to provide a training apparatus that strengthens musclesand thereby prevents such problems and also treats people that sufferfrom these illnesses.

BACKGROUND ART

German patents No. 2803404 and 3221721 disclose therapy devices in thefield of the present invention. The devices consist of a support frameand a body support board rotatably connected to the support frame. Therotatable connection of the body support board is located below themiddle part of the board, which is located behind the back of the user.Thus, the prior art devices are not designed for a 360° rotation of theuser. Also, since the user's center of gravity is outside the rotationalaxis of the apparatus, the user will not be able to rotate the supportboard by himself. Furthermore, the board prevents free movement of theupper body.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the swing includes a telescopicallyadjustable foot rest, a front pad for the abdomen and a back pad for theback. The foot rest, front pad and back pad are adjusted such that thecenter of gravity of the user's body coincides with the rotatable axisthat is attached to the support frame. The user is free to rotate andwill easily be able to move to a desired position by using thehandrails. The user may rotate in a circle of 360° and the swing can belocked in any position by a bolt. When the swing is locked with the userin a supine position, the apparatus will function as an excellentexercise device for the abdominal muscles. When the user is rotating andalso when he is hanging freely in an upright position, he will be ableto completely relax and the back muscles will be stretched in such a waythat the vertebral discs will be realigned. This results in improvedblood circulation and relieves pressure on pinched nerves. Thisimportant exercise is not possible with the body support board of theprior art because the board restricts movement of the shoulders andhead. The swing of the present invention may be adjusted in such a waythat the user will be able to easily rotate to any position without helpfrom others.

As previously mentioned, the swing can be rotated in 360° and duringsuch a rotation the weight of the body is supported by the front andback pads. Accordingly, the pads will act as a massage device which alsohas a good effect on the muscles. This effect is not achieved to thesame extent with the support boards of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the training apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the training apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an overhead view of the training apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows a person using the training apparatus.

METHODS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings 1-4, the training apparatus comprises thefollowing main components: A support frame 1 including two circularrings (handrails) and optionally, at least two support rods radiallyattached to said circular rings. Support frame 1 is provided with aU-frame 2 that is telescopically fitted to frame 1 by inserting a bolt 3through openings 3 of support frame 1 and U-frame 2. A U-shaped swing 4,having an upper frame 5 and a lower telescopically adjustable U-frame 6and adjusting bolts 8, 22, is rotatably connected to support frame 1 bybearings 10 and bolts 9. U-frame 6 is provided with a footrest 7 whichincludes an adjustable locking device 23 and a bolt 24. A front pad 15and a back pad 16 are mounted to frame 5.

In addition, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4 includes the followingitems: A plate 11 for keeping bearings 10 in place, screws 11 whichconnect plate 11 to a center plate 13, which is attached to the supportrods (inside the handrails) of support frame 1. A pin 14 may be insertedthrough openings in a center plate 14 and frame 5 for locking swing 4 ina desired position. A holding plate 18 for front pad 15 is connected toa steel frame 17 through a holding device 19 that includes a pin 20 thatallows horizontal rotation of front pad 15. A pin 21 allows front pad 15and frame 17 to swing open for entry and exit of the user. A U-frame 26which supports back pad 16 through a connecting pin 28, and an adjustingpin 29 for telescopic connection with upper frame 5. A rod 25 includinga pin 27, wherein said rod connects frame 17 to swing 4, allowing foradjustment of front pad 15.

EXAMPLE 1 Use of the Training Apparatus

Initially swing 4 will be locked in a vertical position and front pad 15will be in an open position. After the user has entered swing 4, hisfeet will be held to the footrest by adjustable locking device 23. Thenfront pad 15 including frame 17 will be moved against the abdomen of theuser and locked into position by bolt 21. To unlock swing 4, the userpulls out locking pin 14. The user may rotate in a controlled manner bygripping the handrails. Swing 4 may be locked so that the user is in asupine position. By twisting the shoulders from side to side, the userwill exercise his abdominal and back muscles. For exercising the musclesof the back, swing 4 may be rotated 180° such that the user is in aprone position where his abdomen is resting on the front pad 15. In anupright position, twisting the shoulders will provide an excellentstretch for the muscles of the upper body. The apparatus may be utilizedin numerous other ways, and swing 4 and pads 15, 16 are adjustable tofit people of all sizes.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for training muscles of the back, abdomen,arms, neck and shoulders, comprising:a support frame having an upperportion and a lower portion; two equally dimensioned, parallely disposedand coaxial rings, wherein said rings function as a handrail and arefixedly connected to said upper portion of said support frame; aU-shaped swing having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein saidupper portion of said swing is rotatably attached to said support frameat the center of said rings; a foot rest having a locking device tosecure the feet of the user, wherein said footrest is fixed to saidlower portion of said swing; a fixing device for the waist of the usercomprising a front support, a back support and a means for adjusting thedistance of said back support to said axis of rotation, wherein saidfixing device is attached to said swing near the rotational axis of saidswing; and a means for adjusting the distance of said fixing device tosaid axis of rotation, wherein said means for adjusting is used toposition the center of gravity of a user of said apparatus into saidaxis of rotation.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised inthat the height of the support frame is adjustable, since the upper part(1) of the support frame telescopically fits into the lower part (2) ofthe support frame, and the frame parts (1, 2) are locked to each otherby bolts (8) which are installed in corresponding adjusting holes in theframe parts (1, 2).
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised inthat the swing (4, 5, 6) can be fixedly locked in desirable anglepositions, since a bolt (14) is installed in a hole in the centre plate(13) and holes in ears which are fixed to the frame part (5). 4.Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the swing (4, 5,6) is adjustable in the lengtwise direction, since the lower U-formedpart (6) of the swing telescopically fits into the upper frame part (8)of the swing, which arm parts (6, 8) are fixedly locked with a bolt (22)which are installed in the corresponding holes in the respective frameparts.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that footrest (7) is provided with a fixed rod part which has an external andtelescopically arranged adjustable tightening part (23) which parts arelocked to each other by a bolt (24) which is installed through the holesin the respective parts.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1,characterised in that the distance of the front support (15, 17-20) tothe axis of rotation is adjustable by inserting bolts (27) through holesin the telescopic connection between the frame part (5) of the swing andthe frame part (25) of the front support.
 7. Apparatus according toclaim 1, characterised in that the rings (1) are connected to thesupport frame (2) by four rods respectively which further are connectedto the centre plate (13).
 8. An apparatus for training muscles of theback, abdomen, arms, neck and shoulders, comprising:a support framehaving an upper portion and a lower portion; two equally dimensioned,parallely disposed and coaxial rings, wherein said rings function as ahandrail and are fixedly connected to said upper portion of said supportframe; a U-shaped swing having an upper portion and a lower portion,wherein said upper portion of said swing is rotatably attached to saidsupport frame at the center of said rings; a foot rest having a lockingdevice to secure the feet of the user, wherein said footrest is fixed tosaid lower portion of said swing; a fixing device for the waist of theuser comprises a front support, a back support and a means for adjustingthe distance of said back support to said axis of rotation, wherein saidfixing device is attached to said swing near the rotational axis of saidswing; a means for adjusting the distance of said fixing device to saidaxis of rotation, wherein said means for adjusting is used to positionthe center of gravity of a user of said apparatus into said axis ofrotation; and a means for adjusting the distance of said front supportto said axis of rotation.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, whereinthe height of said support frame is telescopically adjustable.
 10. Anapparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a means for lockingsaid swing into position.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 8, furthercomprising a means for telescopically adjusting the length of saidswing.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a meansfor telescopically adjusting said locking device, wherein said lockingdevice secures the feet of a user to said foot rest.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 8, further comprising at least two rods and a centerplate, wherein said center plate is fixed to said support frame near thecenter of said rings and said support rods are connected to saidcircular rings by said center plate.